Amphipod spinners for winter fishing - equipment and fishing techniques

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Amphipod is a crustacean animal belonging to the order of higher crayfish (Amphipoda). In total, about 9,000 species of crustaceans are known that live on the bottom of seas and other bodies of water around the world. Most crustaceans belonging to this order live in the coastal zone near the surf and can get ashore. This order also includes parasitic forms, including whale lice.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Amphipod

Amphipods (Amphipoda) are arthropods belonging to the class of higher crayfish in the order Amphipoda. This order was first described by the French entomologist Pierre Andre Latreille in 1817. This order includes more than 9,000 species of crustaceans. Amphipods are very ancient creatures; it is known that these crustaceans inhabited the benthos of seas and fresh water bodies at the beginning of the Stone period of the Paleozoic era, which is approximately 350 million years ago.

Video: Amphipod

However, due to the lack of carapace, the remains of these animals are almost not preserved; only 12 specimens of ancient crustaceans of this order are known. Fossils of ancient amphipods that lived during the Eocene period have been preserved. These fossils have survived to this day thanks to amber. An ancient animal fell into a drop of amber and could not get out of it, and only thanks to this circumstance can we know that these creatures lived during the Paleozoic era.

In 2013, an amphipod was described that lived in the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, which is almost 200 million years older than the previous specimen. This amphipod of the species Rosagammarus minichiellus was described in the same year by a group of scientists led by Mark McMenamin. At the moment, the population of crustaceans is extremely diverse. This order also includes some planktonic organisms.

Appearance and description

Photo: What amphipod looks like

Amphipods are very small crustaceans. The size of an average individual is only about 10 mm in length, but large individuals measuring about 25 mm are also found, but rarely. Representatives of small species of amphipods are very tiny and their size is only 1 mm in length.

The body of amphipods is flattened on the sides. The main difference between amphipods and other crustaceans is the absence of carapace. On the chest, the anterior segment is completely fused with the head. The limbs on the first segment are represented by jaws. The limbs on the chest have a different structure. The front pair of limbs have large false claws. These claws are necessary for grasping food. The next two pairs end in claws. Only on the front claws are directed forward, and the rear claws are directed back.

Thanks to these claws, the animal can easily move along the subrostat. Between the 2nd and 7th thoracic segments there are gills. The belly of the amphipod is divided into several sections - the urosome and the pleosome. Each section includes 3 segments. On the pleosome segments there are pleopods, two-branched limbs used for swimming.

On the uresome there are uropod limbs, thanks to which the crustacean can jump high and move quite quickly along the shore and along the bottom of the reservoir. Urepods are quite strong. The excretory system is represented by the intestine and anus.

Where does amphipod live?

Photo: Amphipod in the river

Amphipods are extremely common creatures. They live in almost all freshwater bodies of water, seas, and at the bottom of the oceans. In addition, many amphipods also live in underground waters. They can be found in springs and wells in the Caucasus, Ukraine and western Europe.

The suborder Ingol-fiellidea lives in the underground waters of Africa, southern Europe and America. And also several species of these crustaceans live in the cappillar passages of sand on the shores of Peru, the English Channel and in the Gulf of Thailand. Species Gammarus pulex, G. kischinefensis, G. balcanicus. They inhabit the waters of England, Moldova, Germany and Romania. In our country, these crustaceans live in almost all bodies of water.

Marine amphipods live in the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas. Amphipods of several species live in the Volga, Oka and Kama rivers: Niphargoides sarsi, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, Niphargoides sarsi. In the Yenisei and Angara reservoir there are more than 20 species of these crustaceans. Well, the most diverse fauna in Lake Baikal. 240 species of crustaceans live at the bottom of Lake Baikal. All crustaceans live at the bottom of reservoirs and lead a planktonic lifestyle.

Interesting fact: At the bottom of the Oka River, only in its lower reaches, there are about 170 thousand individuals of amphipods of the genus Corophium per square meter of bottom.

Now you know where amphipods are found. Let's find out what he eats.

What do amphipods eat?

Photo: Amphipod crustacean

Almost all amphipods are omnivores.

The main diet of amphipods includes:

• underwater plants (both living parts and dead ones);
• remains of fish and other animals;
• priming;
• seaweed;
• small animals.

The method of eating may vary. These crustaceans bite off large food with their chews and break them into small pieces. Powerful jaws hold pieces of food, preventing it from falling out of the mouth. Some species of amphipods feed by filtering the suspension brought by the waves. These crustaceans usually live in the coastal zone. When they feel that the wave is moving away from the shore, the crayfish hide in the soil, only sticking out a little from it; when the soil is exposed, the crustaceans plunge into it entirely; this is how the species Niphargoides maeoticus usually feeds.

Crustaceans of the species Corophiidae, Leptocheirus and Ampeliscidae feed without leaving their homes. There these animals begin to muddy the top layer of soil with their rear antennas. Algae and bacteria enter the water, and the crayfish filters the water by passing it through a network of bristles located on its front legs. Predators among amphipods are sea goats.

These small crustaceans attack smaller relatives, worms, and jellyfish. Planktonic amphipods of the species Lysianassidae live on jellyfish and lead a semi-parasitic lifestyle. Parasitic species of amphipods Cyamidae whale lice. These small parasites settle on whales near the anus and feed on the skin of the whales, gnawing deep ulcers.

Spoon amphipod

The amphipod bait is a logical continuation of the development of the winter bait Kiev Helicopter. The Dnieper helicopter is a heavy bait, a kind of hybrid of a jig, a winter spinner and a balancer for catching predators in the current and depth (mainly, of course, pike perch). The game of the Kyiv helicopter is not very rich - simple twitching, tapping on the bottom. But this tackle has successfully proven itself in winter fishing for passive predators. The winter amphipod spoon is an improved version of this bait. The main feature is a shift in the center of gravity and suspension angle. The shape of the spoon is flatter, convex on one side. This change in design made it possible to give the spoon that unique game for which it is famous.

Homemade Kyiv helicopter

Modern Kyiv helicopter

Transverse spinner

Kyiv wasp

Amphipod wasp

What is amphipod for fishing

This is a heavy spinner for vertical fishing of a special configuration with an oblique suspension to the main fishing line with a sliding fastening. When properly rigged and played, no other winter trolling lure gives this type of play:

• Specific movements in the horizontal plane;
• Circulation around the anchor axis (main line) during jig fishing;
• And most importantly - circular movements when swinging. This movement repeats the attempts of the fry to hide from the teeth of the predator and drives the pike perch crazy, forcing the fanged one to make a grab.
• This game is determined by the shape of the bait, the location of the through hole through which the bait is mounted to the fishing line.

The correct amphipod performs these three elements of wiring to varying degrees. This is the main condition for catchability. Let's highlight what a fisherman needs to do to get effective gear:

1. Find, make or buy the bait itself. The quality of the game will be determined experimentally.
2. Make winter equipment correctly.
3. Installation of the gear must be done at home, with a container of water (barrel). Only in practice, by changing the methods of binding, is it revealed whether the bait works well or not (more on this later).

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Amphipod

Most amphipods lead a semi-submersible lifestyle. During the day they live at the bottom of the reservoir, but at night these small crustaceans come out onto land and can crawl along the beach in search of food. They usually eat rotting algae that is washed ashore by the waves. During the daytime, the crustaceans return to the reservoir or hide in the soil, protecting their gills from drying out.

Like many crayfish, amphipods breathe with gills; the gill plates are permeated with thin vessels that retain moisture and this allows the crustaceans to escape to land. Crustaceans have an amazing ability to navigate in space; even when moving far away from the water, they can accurately determine where they need to return.

Some amphipods search for snags and branches, feeding on tree sawdust and dust. Predatory amphipods, sea goats, hide almost all the time among the thickets of grass. They track prey for a long time by sitting in one place with their front claws slightly raised, as soon as it sees the prey sharply and attacks it.

Whale lice lead a parasitic lifestyle and spend almost their entire lives on whales feeding on their skin. Small crustaceans living on the seabed lead a quiet lifestyle. Some practically never leave their burrows, feeding by filtering and constantly digging up the bottom.

Catching pike perch using amphipods

This bait is ideal for catching pike perch in winter due to its attractive body. Pike perch quite often leaves its hiding place in search of small fish. When he is hunting, he is definitely attracted to such movements of the bait, and if he is no longer hungry, then no one can force the pike perch to covet an artificial bait.

In large bodies of water, such as a reservoir, pike perch disperses throughout the entire water area in winter, so it does not travel in schools and one should not particularly count on it. Before starting fishing, it is better to decide on a promising place and only then start fishing for it. During this period, the pike perch is able to sort through food and the game of bait should be taken very seriously. You should always pay attention to the wiring speed: it should be minimal. Naturally, the bait cannot be taken far to the side, so it will always be within this hole.

Most anglers look for fish sites by randomly punching holes, determining the depth and, as a result, determining the bottom topography. In this case, holes and edges are needed. These are the places where the predator prefers to be.

There is no point in stopping for a long time near each hole: it is enough to apply the 8x8 formula to fish each hole. During pauses, you can animate the movements of the bait a little, no more. As a rule, it is during pauses that the predator attacks potential prey.

As practice shows, “amphip” is exactly the kind of bait that can interest any predator with its unique game.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Crayfish amphipod

Amphipods are heterosexual creatures. Sexual dimorphism is often very pronounced. Depending on the species, males may be larger than females, or vice versa. In the family Gammaridae, males are many times larger than females. In the Leptocheirus family, on the contrary, females are larger than males. Sexually mature females of all amphipod species have a brood pouch.

Interesting fact: The development of male sexual characteristics in amphipods is due to the presence of a special hormone that is secreted by the androgenic endocrine glands. The transplantation of these glands into a female individual led to the degeneration of the female's ovaries into testes.

In the amphipod Gammarus duebeni, the sex of the offspring is determined by the temperature at which the eggs mature. In the cold season, males hatch; in the warm season, females are born. The mating process in amphipods lasts several days. The male presses against the female's back, holding the anterior and posterior edges of the female's fifth thoracic segment with his strong claws in anticipation of molting.

After molting, the male moves onto the female’s abdomen and puts his abdominal legs together, inserting them several times between the rear plates of the brood pouch. At this time, releasing sperm from the genital openings. With the help of the abdominal legs, sperm is transferred into the brood pouch. After 4 hours, the female lays eggs in this pouch and they are immediately fertilized. In different species of amphipods, the number of eggs that the female lays varies. In general, females lay from 5 to 100 eggs per mating.

But some species are more fertile, for example, Gammara-canthus loricatus lays up to 336 eggs, Amathillina spinosa up to 240. The most fertile White Sea amphipods Apopuh nugax after one mating, the female bears up to a thousand embryos. Amphipod embryos in the egg are curved towards the abdomen. From the moment of fertilization, It takes from 14 to 30 days before the small crustaceans leave the mother’s brood pouch.

Small crustaceans grow very quickly, surviving about 13 molts. Most species of amphipods reproduce in the warm season, but amphipods of the genus Anisogammarus carry eggs all winter, and by spring small crustaceans are born. The average lifespan of amphipods is about 2 years. Representatives of the species Niphargus orcinus virei live the longest; they can live up to 30 years, but on average they live about 6 years.

Making amphipods with your own hands

Prepare your materials and follow the instructions below.

Materials

Winter amphipod spoons are made in two ways. In the first case, you need a small piece of foam rubber or polystyrene foam, a fish hook and a dark lead pellet with a diameter of 4 mm.

Another material kit includes foam, a hook, lead, paint, and a block of wood. Tools you will need are scissors, a ruler, a brush, tape and a sharp knife.

Making bait

If the first method is chosen for manufacturing, then simple materials are used.

First, the workpiece is processed. The recommended thickness does not exceed 2−3 mm. The workpiece is placed on a hook, the size of which ranges from 1 to 5. The thread is stretched. The tip of the fishing line is cut off. Now the bait is ready and can be used.

The second method: first, a model is made from foam plastic, which is easy and convenient to work with. Then, using tape, the pre-prepared wooden block is wrapped.

Then make a solution from alabaster and pour it into a mold. In the meantime, spread the workpiece with soapy water. When it dries, immerse it in the mold without allowing the alabaster to dry.

Using a knife, cut two holes in the bait. After treatment with soapy water, everything is filled with alabaster. At the end, make a hole for the hook.

When the base of the spoon is made, it is brought to perfection by working out the small details of the bait, then the bait will turn out as if it were alive. For example, the scales are cut out after the workpiece has completely dried.

It is recommended to paint your homemade spoon in different colors. Green is optimal. The part of the amphipod where there is no hook must be bright and attractive so that the predator pecks at great depths.

Using a ruler, the center of gravity is determined. A hole is made in accordance with it. A wool brush is used as a ponytail. You can add a tee to avoid breakage cases. Now the product has taken on an attractive appearance for fish.

Natural enemies of amphipods

Photo: What amphipod looks like

The main enemies of amphipods are:

• fish;
• whales and killer whales;
• turtles;
• minks;
• cats;
• dogs;
• muskrats;
• frogs and other amphibians;
• insects and their larvae;
• arachnids;
• birds (mainly sandpipers).

Amphipods are very small and almost defenseless creatures. Therefore, in their natural environment, these crustaceans have plenty of enemies. Because of this, crustaceans try to lead a more or less secretive lifestyle. In rivers, amphipods are hunted by eels, burbot, perches, roaches, bream and many other fish. Eels are considered the most dangerous enemies of these crustaceans, since these fish constantly dig the ground and easily climb into crayfish burrows.

Birds and mammalian predators lie in wait for crayfish on the shore. But most amphipods die not from falling into the clutches of predators, but from disease. And the most dangerous of them is the crayfish plague. It is the plague that destroys thousands of crustaceans every year. Crustaceans also suffer from parasitic diseases; even these small creatures are inhabited by parasites. The most vulnerable crustaceans are those that have received any kind of injury; various bacteria quickly multiply on the wounds.

Pollution of water bodies is also an unfavorable factor. Amphipods are very sensitive to the ingress of harmful substances into water; there are known cases of mass death of these crustaceans in places where water bodies are heavily polluted.

Secrets of fishing when catching perch with amphipods

Most often, such winter fishing - catching perch with amphipods - with good equipment ends with a rich catch. An important condition: the game and guiding of the amphipod must be correct.

To begin with, the hook is lowered into the hole to a depth of about 20 cm. After this, the amphipod smoothly sinks onto the perch and then abruptly returns to its previous position. After an 8-second pause, the actions are repeated.

This wiring method is called 8x8. That is, 8 strokes are carried out with a break of 8 seconds. During this time, the bait will definitely be noticed by a predator. If this does not happen, it is better to find another place for fishing. If there was a bite, with the help of retrieval, persistence and patience you can catch a lot of fish. The amphipod's catchability is quite high.

Bait game

There are different ways to play with bait. Uneven wiring is carried out due to jerking and twitching. The stepped one consists of short pauses and sharp rises to the top.

With an even game, the length of the pauses corresponds in time to the movements of the bait. In places where there is a lot of vegetation in the water, the action of the bait is more vertical. Such a balancer attracts predatory fish.

In total, when catching passive fish, such as perch and pike, there can be two wiring options - active (with animation) or passive.